Shaft locking device for a timer

ABSTRACT

When a cam carrying shaft of a timer is axially indexed, a lever is actuated to move a retaining means into engagement with a oneway clutch means to prevent manual rotation of the cam carrying shaft.

United States Patent 1191 Weber et al.

SHAFT LOCKING DEVICE FOR A TIMER Inventors: Richard H. Weber,Indianapolis;

Benjamin F. Chestnut, Greenwood, both of ind.

Assignee: P. R. Mallory & Co., Indianapolis,

ind.

Filed: Sept. 13, 1971 Appl. No.: 179,652

Int. Cl. Fl6h 5/74 Field of Search 74/35, 3.52, 3.54; 200/38 A, 38 B, 38D, 38 DA References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,476,892 11/1969Simmons 6! 61' 74/15 x US. Cl. 74/3.5, 200/38 A Primary Eramineh-Man ielA. Antonakas Attorney-Richard H. Childress, Robert F. Meyer et al.

[57] ABSTRACT When a cam carrying shaft of a timer is axially indexed, alever is actuated to move a retaining means into. engagement with aone-way clutch means to prevent manual rotation of the cam carryingshaft.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 12 i 1 1 23 18 22 2 H m H l \1\ X \I l I 5gbT111111 I I 1 L p 11 1 1\]||[ l mu 54 \l- ;se 11 11M 22' I i le SHAFTLOCKING DEVICE FOR A TIMER This invention relates to timing mechanismssuch as those used in the appliance field; and more particularly to ameans preventing manual rotation of a cam carrying shaft when the shaftis under power driven rotation.

Timing mechanisms are used in the appliance field to operate anappliance in accordance with a programmed sequence-For example,automatic washers and dryers perform their sequences of operation inaccordance with the operation of a timing mechanism. In suchapplications, the program desired, such as a particular wash or dryingcycle, may be manually set by the operator of the appliance. However,where such manual rotation or setting of a timing mechanism is providedfor, means must also be provided to insure that there is no manualsetting of the timer when it is under power driven operation.

The present invention, therefore, relates to a timing mechanism and hasas one of its objects the provision of a timing mechanism having a meansto prevent manual rotation of a cam carrying shaft when the shaft isunder power driven rotation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a timing mechanismhaving a one-way clutch means coupling a motor to a cam carrying shaftand means engaging the one-way clutch means to prevent manual rotationof the cam carrying shaft when the timer is under power driven-rotation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawingswherein: 1

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a timer employing the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the timer in another operatingmode.

Generally-speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished byproviding a timer which, in' general,

comprises a motor drive means, a manually rotatable and axiallyindexable cam carrying shaft and cam means carried by the shaft, aone-way clutch means coupling the motor drive means to the cam carryingshaft for power driven rotation, and lever means coupled to the camcarrying shaft and to a retaining means, indexing of the cam carryingshaft actuating the lever means to engage the retaining means with theone-way clutch means.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a timer which, in general,includes a motor drive means 12, a speed reducing means 14, and aone-way clutch means 16 which couples the speed reduction means 14 to acam carrying shaft 18 through a gear 20. Gear 20 is carried by camcarrying shaft 18. Cam means 22 includes a plurality of cams 22' carriedby a hub portion 23 which is fixedly carried by the cam carrying shaft18. Although not shown, rotation of cam means 22 opens and closesappropriate switches in a manner well known in the art. Gear 20 includesa hub portion 24 which is rotatably journalled on bushing 26. Camcarrying shaft 18 includes a reduced portion 18 which is rotatablyjournalled in bushing 26. The other end of the shaft is journalled intop plate 27. Also included as part of the cam carrying shaft 18 aredetents 28, 28' adapted to receive a hair-pin 30 when the shaftisaxially indexed. The hair-pin, in combination with the detents, limitthe axial indexing of the shaft.

Motor drive means 12 includes a synchronous motor 12' having an outputpinion 13 to which is coupled speed reducing means 14, speed reducingmeans 14 including a plurality of gears and pinions in accordance withthe amount of speed reduction required. By way of example, output pinion13 engages gear 15 which in turn meshes with gear 17 which in turnmeshes with gear 19.

One-way clutch means 16 includes a substantially circular spring arm orpawl 32 one end of which is pivotally carried on gear 19 through post34, ratchet 36, and output pinion 38. Pawl 32 includes a tooth 33engaging ratchet 36. It is resilient with its free end sprung about post37. Ratchet 36 and output pinion 38 are integral and are carried by axle40.

As previously noted, cam carrying shaft 18 may be manually rotated toset a desired program for the cam means 22. Such manual rotation may beeffectuated through a knob 21 fixedly carried by the cam carrying shaft18. However, means must be provided to insure that such manual rotationdoes not occur when the cam means 22 is being power driven through themotor means 12. In the present invention, such prevention of the manualrotation is achieved through retaining means 44 which is actuated bylever means 46. Retaining means 44 includes a substantially flat andcircular spring 48 which substantially surrounds unidirectional means 16and which is spring biased against bottom plate 25 through tangs 50. Theleaf portions 48', 48", and 48" tend to bias the spring upwardly, oraway from the plate. Lever means 46 includes a yoke 52 having arms 52'and 52" extending from a central portion 52". The central portion alsoincludes a gripping means 54 which includes a pair of arms 56 and 58,each carried by a post 60, and each engaging one of the cams 22'. Eachof the arms 52' and 5 2" are pivotally mounted about the hub 24 throughtangs 62and 64 which are lanced from base plate 25. Tabs 66 and 68carried at the ends of the'arms engage spring 48 to ac- I tuate thespring in accordance with the movement of the yoke.

In operation, when cam carrying shaft 18 is indexed in as shown in FIG.1, the central portion 52""will be actuated downward with the ends 52'and 52" being actuated upward. Spring 48 will be biased upward out of anengaging position with respect to pawl 32. Manual rotation of the camcarrying shaft 18 in a clockwise direction will cause pinion 38 torotate counterclockwise and tooth 33 of pawl 32, will disengage fromratchet 36, thus permitting the gear 20 and pinion 38 to be freewheeling in that direction. Because of the orientation of the ratchetteeth, however, tooth 33 will not disengage the ratchet when the ratchetis rotated clockwise (cam carrying shaft-counterclockwise).

With the cam carrying shaft indexed outwardly as shown in FIG. 3, spring48 will be actuated downwardly into engaging position with respect topawl 32. The

' one-way clutch will now be locked in permitting There is also providedin the timer a switch means 70 which operates as a line switch to closeelectrical contacts 72 and 74 to complete an electrical circuit to themotor for power driven rotation in a manner well known in the art.

What is claimed is: g

l. A timer comprising:

a. motor drive means b. a manually rotatable and axially indexable camcarrying shaft and cam means carried by said shaft,

\ c. a one-way clutch means coupling said motor drive means to said camcarrying shaft for power driven rotation, and

d. a yoke having a central portion and arms centrally pivoted about saidcam carrying shaft, said central portion of said yoke having meansengaging a cam of said cammeans, and

e. a retaining means coupled to said arms,

f. whereby indexing of said cam carrying shaft actuating said arms toengage said retaining means with said one-way clutch means.

2. A timer according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes aspring engaging said one-way clutch means.

3. A timer according to claim 1 wherein said one-way clutch meansincludes a pawl engaging a ratchet, said spring intermittently engagingsaid pawl in response to movement of said lever means to hold said pawlin engagement with said ratchet means.

4. A timer according to claim 3 wherein said pawl includes asubstantially circular spring arm surrounding said ratchet and having atooth extending inwardly to engage said ratchet, and said spring issubstantially circular, actuation of said lever engaging an innersurface d. a one-way clutch means coupling said speed reducv tion meansto said gear means, including a substantially circular spring armcarried by said gear and substantially surrounding a ratchet carried bysaid axle and having a tooth engaging said ratchet, e. a substantiallycircular spring substantially surrounding said circular spring arm, andf. a lever pivotally mounteda'bout said cam carrying shaft, one end ofsaid lever engaging said cam means, the other end including meansengaging said substantially circular spring, I

g. whereby indexing said cam carrying shaft pivoting said lever causingengagement of said substantially circular spring with said circularspring arm.

l t it

1. A timer comprising: a. motor drive means b. a manually rotatable andaxially indexable cam carrying shaft and cam means carried by saidshaft, c. a one-way clutch means coupling said motor drive means to saidcam cArrying shaft for power driven rotation, and d. a yoke having acentral portion and arms centrally pivoted about said cam carryingshaft, said central portion of said yoke having means engaging a cam ofsaid cam means, and e. a retaining means coupled to said arms, f.whereby indexing of said cam carrying shaft actuating said arms toengage said retaining means with said one-way clutch means.
 2. A timeraccording to claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a springengaging said one-way clutch means.
 3. A timer according to claim 1wherein said one-way clutch means includes a pawl engaging a ratchet,said spring intermittently engaging said pawl in response to movement ofsaid lever means to hold said pawl in engagement with said ratchetmeans.
 4. A timer according to claim 3 wherein said pawl includes asubstantially circular spring arm surrounding said ratchet and having atooth extending inwardly to engage said ratchet, and said spring issubstantially circular, actuation of said lever engaging an innersurface of said spring with an outer surface of said pawl.
 5. A timercomprising: a. motor drive means, b. a manually rotatable and axiallyindexable cam carrying shaft, cam means and a gear means carried by saidshaft, c. speed reduction means coupled to said motor drive means,including a gear mounted on an axle, d. a one-way clutch means couplingsaid speed reduction means to said gear means, including a substantiallycircular spring arm carried by said gear and substantially surrounding aratchet carried by said axle and having a tooth engaging said ratchet,e. a substantially circular spring substantially surrounding saidcircular spring arm, and f. a lever pivotally mounted about said camcarrying shaft, one end of said lever engaging said cam means, the otherend including means engaging said substantially circular spring, g.whereby indexing said cam carrying shaft pivoting said lever causingengagement of said substantially circular spring with said circularspring arm.